Sound Bites: The Killers – Battle Born

Battle Born is a grower; casual fans of The Killers will give up after one listen and deem the album ‘disappointing’. Victims (hardcore fans) will give it a few run-throughs before labeling it ‘good. Sonically Battle Born encompasses the band’s complete discography, you’ll notice hints of Hot Fuss, Sam’s Town, and Day & Age. That sounds like a winning formula — but it rarely outshines its influences. It has a few great tracks, but it’s ballad heavy and very formulaic at times.

The Bottom-Line: This is definitely worth a listen for anyone who loves The Killers. Flesh and Bone, A Matter of Time, Miss Atomic Bomb, and The Rising Tide are easily some of their best songs to date. But as a whole Battle Born lacks the raw energy and powerful hooks of the band’s previous efforts. (Rating: 7/10 ‘Good’)